Benjamin Frederick Zimmerman

Ben F. Zimmerman was born on June 1, 1916, on the same 20 acres he lived on his entire life, and passed away on Sunday, April 10, 2016, just weeks shy of his 100 year birthday. He was the eldest of three children.

At the age of 15, he was forced to quit school to help his mother run the family ranch when his father passed away. It was mostly vineyards and some chickens. The business progressed to turkeys and eventually pasture in the fifties, which brought a new hobby, cattle. He met and married Frances Haskell. They built a modest, but grand marriage for 59 years with but one child. Frances broadened his horizons. He rarely left the Fresno area and never the state, until they became a couple. When Benny was old enough to travel, they went for trips short and long. Frances had a cousin, Jason "Jack" Haskell, who took elaborate hunting trips. Elk by pack horse in Idaho, Deer in Nevada, Antelope in Wyoming and Pheasant in South Dakota. Ben was always invited along doing things and going place he'd never been.

He was an old world kind of guy. The mother raised the kids teaching them right from wrong and social skills. When old enough to work, the father took over and taught working skills and real world situations.

When Benny was younger, and because of his father's passing when he was so young, Ben said, "I just hope I live long enough to see him graduate high school". Well, he not only saw Benny graduate high school, but college as well, plus all three grandchildren graduate high school and other higher learning, and one to have two children of her own. He had a truly blessed life.

Ben was preceded in death by his entire immediate family, with the exception of his son and his family.

Ben was survived by his son, Ben "Benny" F. Zimmerman III and his wife Lynette; three grandchildren, Sandra Cross and her husband Shawn, Jennifer Zimmerman and William Zimmerman; and two great-grandchildren, Maxwell and Emma Cross.

Visitation will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel on Friday, April 15, 2016, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Graveside Service will be held at Mt. View Cemetery on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at 1:00 p.m.

Remembrances can be made to Valley Children's Hospital, 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera, CA 93636.

Arrangements under the direction of Stephens & Bean Funeral Chapel, Fresno, CA.